Distillation process



March 24, i936. M. P. YOUKER 25034389 DISTILLATION PROCESS Original FiledSept. 3, 1925 Level:

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Patented Mar. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES analyse PATENT OFFIQE DISTILLATION PROCESS Refled for abandoned application Serial No.

54,263, September 3, 1925.

This application March 28, 1931, Serial No. 526,086

5 Claims.

My invention consists in new and useful improvements in a distillation process and relates particularly to an improvement in the method of carrying out a distillation process for the fractional distillation of hydrocarbon liquids, set forth in my former Patent No. 1,735,558, issued to me on Nov. 12, 1929, in which a process for the fractional distillation of petroleum is described and claimed which comprises fractionally vaporizing petroleum oil in a distilling column and fractionally condensing the vaporous fractions thus produced in a rectifying column.

The present application is based on my former application led Sept. 3, 1925, Serial No. 54,263

' which was prosecuted to allowance on Aug. l2,

1926 but inadvertently abandoned for failure to pay the final government fee within the statutory period.

An object of my present invention is to provide a method by which this distillation process may be carried out in a combined distilling and rectifying column.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the novel features herein set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the.

appended claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates in side elevation one form of apparatus by means of which my improved process may be carried out. All pipe lines are shown by single lines in the interests of clarity.

Referring to the drawing, a pipe I, which is in communication with a supply of crude or semi-refined petroleum, leads into a bubbling type fractionating column 2. Horizontal plates 3, are disposed in fractionating column 2. Pipe nipples 4, over which bubbling caps 5 are mounted, pierce plates 3. Pipes 6, "I, 8, and 9, at their upper extremities, all enter the fractionating column 2, at points which are somewhat above the lower edge of that bubbling cap which is adjacent to the point of entry into the column, while all of these pipes with the exception of 9 at their lower extremities enter the rectifying column at points somewhat below the lower edge of the bubbling cap, which is adjacent to the point of entry into the column. The lower end of pipe 9 enters the column at a point slightly above the lower edge of the bubbling cap, which is adjacent to the point of entry into the column. As a result of this arrangement of the pipes 6, l, 8, and 9, liquids flowing down and through the rectifying column 2, over the plates 3, b y way of these pipes 6, l, 8, and 9, will collect in pools on plates 3 to a depth such that the lower edge of bubbling caps 5 and the lowerr extremities of pipes 6, 1, 8, and 9 will be submerged and any vapors which may at the same time be forced upward through the fractionating column by way of the nipples 4 will be constrained by bubbling caps 5 to bubble through the pools of liquid held on plates 3.

The pipes 6 connect alternate pools of liquid 10 held in the column While the pipes 1 connect the remaining intervening alternate pools of liquid which are held in the column. The pipe 8 serves to drain liquid from over the next lowest plate 3 in the column onto the lowestof the plates 3. 15 Pipes I0 in each of which is mounted a valve II, are connected into some of the pipes 6, and lead to storage tanks which are not shown. A pipe I2 leads from the top of the rectifying column 2, through a cooler I3, into a tank I4. 20 A pipe I5, in which a valve I6, is mounted, leads from tank I4 onto the top plate of fractionating column 2. A pipe I'I is connected into the rectifying column just over the lowest of plates 3, and leads through a pump IB and a furnace I9 into 25 the lowest compartment of the fractionating column 2. A pipe 20, in which is mounted a valve 2| leads from the bottom of the fractionating column to a storage tank, which is not shown.

This apparatus will be operated to carry out 30` my process in the following manner.

Oil which is to be distilled will be charged into the fractionating column 2 through the pipe I, and will flow thence downward through the column by way of pipes l and across alternate plates 3 and through pipe 9 and across the bottom plate of the column into the pipe Il, and the pump I8. Previously rened petroleum oil will be reuxed into the top of the column from tank I4, through pipe I5, by means of operating the valve I6, and will flow thence downward through the column by Way of pipe 8, and pipes 6, across alternate plates in the column and through the pipe I'I, to the pump I8. Oil which will reach the pump; I8 will be forced by this pump through the pipe I1 and the furnace I9, where such oil will be heated and partially vaporized, and the resulting oil and vapor will pass from the pipe I'I, into the bottom compartment of the fractionating column. Liquid which will collect in the bottom of the column will be drawn 01T into storage through the pipe 20, by means of operating the valve 2I. Vapor which will be delivered by the pipe I'I into the bottom of the fractionating column will ow upward through the column by Way of the nipples 4, and will alternately make contact with the two streams of oil which will be flowing out of contact with each other downward through the fractionating column. Vapors which Will arrive at the top of the fractionating column will ow thence by way of the pipe I2, into the cooler I3, where such vapors will be condensed and the resultant condensate will flow through pipe I2 into the tank I4. Fractions of the stream of rened oil which will flow downward across alternate plates of the fractionating column and through the pipes 6, will be withdrawn from the apparatus as products of the process through the pipe I0, through manipulation of the valves Il. All of the liquids obtained from the apparatus will be well separated fractions of the crude liquid which will be charged to the apparatus. The most volatile of the products of the process will be obtained from the apparatus through the pipe I2, and the volatility of this product will be regulated by increasing the quantity of refluxed liquidv to increase the volatility of this product and vice versa. Products drawn from the fractionating column at lower points will be less volatile than those drawn from higher points. The products drawn from the stream of liquid which flows down the fractionating column will become less volatile when the valves I I are opened wider and vice versa.

From the foregoing it is believed that the objects and advantages of my improved distillation process will be readily understood by those skilled in the art Without further description, it being borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the details of operation without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isz- 1. A process of fractional distillation and rectification of petroleum which comprises establishing and maintaining differential temperature in a device like a column still, establishing and maintaining transverse bodies of oil across such a device at different levels and at different temperatures, passing a feed of petroleum oil downward through such device in two separate and distinct but parallel streams, passing a flow of hot oil-vapors countercurrent thereto and in direct physical heat transferring contact therewith to produce open fractional distillation of one of the oil streams and simultaneous rectification of the other of the oil streams, and withdrawing liquid as distillate from the rectied oil stream.

2. A distillation process for the fractional distillation of hydrocarbon liquids which consists in causing a stream of liquid hydrocarbon charging stock and a stream of reflux condensate to flow counter-current to and to alternately and repeatedly make contact with a stream of hydrocarbon vapor, withdrawing a liquid product of the process from the reiiux condensate stream, heating the stream of charging stock after said contact and partially vaporizing at least a portion thereof the resulting vapors at least partially forming the above mentioned stream of hydrocarbon vapor, condensing hydrocarbon vapors after said contact and withdrawing residual unvaporized hydrocarbon liquid from the process.

3. A distillation process for the fractional distillation of hydrocarbon liquids which consists in causing a stream of liquid hydrocarbon charging stock and a stream of reflux condensate to flow counter-current to and to alternately and repeatedly make contact with a stream of hydrocarbon vapor, withdrawing a liquid product of the process from the reflux condensate stream, combining said streams of liquids, heating and partially vaporizing said combined streams, the resulting vapors partially forming the stream of hydrocarbon vapor withdrawing residual unvaporized hydrocarbon liquid, condensing hydrocarbon vapors after said contact between vapor and liquid, and returning condensate to said reflux condensate stream.

4. A process for the fractional distillation of hydrocarbon liquids which consists in causing a stream of liquid hydrocarbon charging stock and a stream of reflux condensate to flow countercurrent to and to alternately and repeatedly make contact with a stream of hydrocarbon vapor, vaporizing liquid which remains after said contacts to at least partially form said stream of hydrocarbon vapor and withdrawing a liquid product of the process from said stream of reflux condensate.

5. A process for the fractional distillation of hydrocarbon liquids which consists in causing a stream of liquid hydrocarbon charging stock and a stream of reflux condensate to ow countercurrent to and to alternately and repeatedly make contact with a stream of hydrocarbon vapor, withdrawing a liquid product of the process from said stream of reflux condensate, uniting said streams of charging stock and reflux condensate, and vaporizing the liquid of the united streams to produce said stream of Vapor.

MALCOLM P. YOUKER. 

